I came across this checklist and thought it was great for parents with school-age children.


Want your child to take school seriously? Create a place in your home for the sole purpose of studying. This communicates to your child the value of education and gives her a sense of stability. Plus, the stress of gathering materials is eliminated. If you store everything your child needs in one spot, no time is wasted scavenging for highlighters or binder paper.

THE BASICS:
Desk or other flat working surface (kitchen table is fine if family respects quiet study time)
Comfortable chair (for certain projects, your child may need to spread out on the floor)
Strong lamp
Rack with compartments (to use as file cabinet)
Box or drawer (to use as IN/OUT box)
Color-coded calendar (to plan out long-term school projects)
Class list with phone numbers (to call other students if your child forgets an assignment)
Home computer (if possible)
No Television!

SCHOOL SUPPLIES:
Blank paper
Erasers
Glue
Paper clips
Pencils
Pencil sharpener
Ruler
Scissors
Special notebook (in which to write homework assignments)
Stapler and staples
Sturdy three-ring binder (with built-in plastic sleeves or insert a heavy-duty zip-top bag)
Tape

FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS:
Construction paper
Set of markers
Wide-ruled writing paper

FOR OLDER STUDENTS:
Ballpoint pens
Binder paper
Calculator
Colored pencils
Compass
Correction fluid
Graph paper
Highlighter pens in various colors
Tape recorder with blank cassettes

That's a really good idea! I will be on the look out for a small desk for my son.


Nealy